energy healing study

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Research Findings at the University of ArizonaCenter for Frontier Medicine in Biofield Science:

A Summary Report

Gary E. Schwartz 1,2, PhD, DirectorCenter for Frontier Medicine in Biofield Science

The University of Arizona

1Report summarizing key findings from the Center for Frontier Medicine in BiofieldScience (CFMBS). It was prepared for NCCAM’s “Think Tank Working Group Meetingon Biofield Energy Medicine” held in Bethesda, MD, March 29-31, 2006. Preparationof this report was supported in part by NIH P20 AT00774-01 (CFMBS) from the

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The content of this paperis solely the responsibility of the author and does not necessarily represent the officialviews of NCCAM or NIH.

2Professor of Psychology, Medicine, Neurology, Psychiatry, and Surgery, The Universityof Arizona.

Introduction and Overview

This report summarizes a set of key findings from the CFMBS (NIH P20AT00774-01) at the University of Arizona. The report addresses three questions:

1. Can biofield effects be observed across multiple biological assays (e.g. in cells,plants, animals, and humans)?

2. What factors modulate the direction, magnitude, replication, and stability of biofield effects (e.g. biophysical, psychological, and contextual factors inhealers and patients)?

3. Can biofields be measured from living systems using state-of-the-artbioelectromagnetic and optical instruments (e.g. low frequency magnetic fields,biophotons)?

Biofield science is inherently interdisciplinary and requires an integrativeapproach. This is reflected in the team of collaborators who have participated in differentaspects of the CFMBS’s research. Listed alphabetically, they have included MikelAiken, PhD, Ann Baldwin, PhD, Iris Bell, MD, PhD, Audrey Brookes, PhD, KatherineBurleson, MD, Maureen Campensino, PhD, Melinda Connor, PhD, Katherine Creath,PhD, PhD, Allan Hamilton, MD, Lewis Mehl-Madrona, MD, PhD, Cheryl Rittenbaugh,PhD, and Beverly Rubik, PhD.



Disciplines and medical specialties represented in the CFMBS have included

biomedical engineering, biostatistics, optical sciences, psychophysiology, psychology,medical anthropology, nursing, medicine, cardiology, psychiatry, and surgery. Biofieldhealing traditions represented in the CFMBS have included Reiki, Johrei, Qigong,

Healing Touch, Yoga, Native American, and Vortex Healing.

Following the summary of key findings, recommendations concerning the politicsof reviewing, funding, and publishing biofield science are briefly discussed.

Findings Concerning (1) Biofield Effects and (2) Modulating Factors

Partly because of the Directors’s training (psychophysiology, experimentalpsychology, and clinical psychology), the CFMBS was designed to examine the potentialrole of specific psychosocial factors in modulating observed biofield effects. We

hypothesized that advances in biofield science would require a careful integration withpsychosocial theories and measurement. Moreover, we hypothesized that the systematicintegration of biofield energy medicine with mind-body medicine would result in greaterunderstanding of both biofield science and mind-body science.

1. Biofield Effects in Bacteria : Reiki, Healing Context, and Emotional Well-Being

Rubik, Brooks, and Schwartz (2005 in press) examined the effects of Reiki on thegrowth of ecoli bacteria which had been heat stressed. In Phase I, fourteen Reikipractitioners participated in three sessions where they practiced Reiki on in vitro ecolibacteria; this was followed in Phase II with two sessions where the practitionersperformed Reiki on a patient suffering from a sprained ankle prior to treating the bacteria.Both phases were double blind; each session included untreated ecoli. We predicted thatthe healing context in Phase II would produce a more reliable and robust increase in cellgrowth. Whereas there was no significant effect for Phase I (Non-healing context), PhaseII (Healing context) generated the predicted effect.



To explore the potential effects of healer’s well-being on growth of bacteria, the

practitioners filled out the Arizona Integrative Outcomes Scale (Bell et al, 2005), ananalogue measure of perceived well-being, (1) upon entering the laboratory, (2) aftertreating the bacteria, and (3) in Phase II, after treating the patient (which preceded thebacteria).

First, we observed that healers reported a significant increase in perceived

emotional well-being after treating the bacteria (and also, in Phase II, after treating thepatient).

Second, when the treated minus control bacteria scores (per session) were splitinto two groups (increased growth versus decreased growth, compared to controls), weobserved that the group showing increased cell growth had higher emotional well-being upon entering the laboratory than the group showing decreased cell growth. This effectwas observed in both phases.

A replication and extension of this study is currently underway with fourteenQiGong practitioners.

2. Biofield Effects in Animals : Reiki, Sham Controls, and Practitioner Well Being

Baldwin and Schwartz (2005 in press) examined the effects of Reiki versus ShamReiki on noise stress induced microvascular leakage (in blood vessels in the gut) in rats.Four groups of rats were examined: (1) rats with no noise, (2) rats with noise, (3) ratswith noise who received 30 sessions of Reiki, and (4) rats with noise who received 30

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Non-healing Healing

Reiki

Control



sessions of sham Reiki (control subjects who mimicked the hand positions of the Reikipractitioners).

Using measures of both number of leaks per unit length of venule, and area of leaks per unit length of venule, rats with noise showed increased number of leaks and

area of leaks compared to rats with no noise. Rats with noise who received Reiki showedsignificantly less leaks and area compared with noise alone and noise plus sham Reiki.

The Reiki / sham Reiki effect was replicated in three experiments. In the thirdexperiment, the Reiki and sham Reiki practitioners filled out the AIOS daily across the30 sessions. Reiki was associated with a significant increase in perceived emotionalwell-being post each session compared to sham Reiki.

The sense of emotional well-being of the practitioner may be an importantmodulating factor of biofield effects. We have observed similar well-being practitionereffects on biophoton emission from plants. We are currently examining such effects onEEG responses in humans.



3. Biofield Effects in Humans : Johrei, Recovery from Cardiac Surgery, PatientBelief

As part of a double-blind, randomized control trial investigating possible effectsof distal Johrei on patients recovering from cardiac surgery, Brooks, Schwartz, Hamilton,

Reece, and Nangle (2006, in press) examined changes in perceived mood, pain, andoverall well-being three days following cardiac surgery. We were interested indetermining the potential influence of patient treatment guess (i.e. did they sense / believe

/ experience that they had received Johrei) on self-report mood and health in coronary-bypass surgery patients.

Patients who actually received Johrei and believed they received Johrei (J yes / Byes) reported the greatest well-being and the least pain, where patients who did notreceive Johrei and believed they did not receive Johrei (J no / B no) reported the leastwell-being and the greatest pain. The other groups (J yes / B no; J no / B yes) fell inbetween. The post-surgery minus pre-surgery changes scores for the AIOS are shown

below.

-3

-2.5

-2

-1.5

-1

-0.5

0

0.5

J yes - B yes J yes - B no J no - B yes J no - B no

These findings suggest that biofield treatment (i.e. Johrei practice) and patient

belief (i.e. patient sensing / feeling / believing that they received Johrei) are bothimportant to treatment outcome. Neither Johrei alone, nor belief alone, are sufficient toaccount for the findings. The psychosocial states of the healer – and the patient – appearto modulate biofield healing effects on physiological and subjective health.

Measuring Biofields in Plants, Animals, and Humans



It has been said “I see it works in practice. However, does it work in theory?”Advances in biofield science will require theory and methods for measuring presumedbiofield processes.

We have explored a number of potential technologies for detecting biofield

biophysically. Two of the most promising are mentioned here: (1) recording low level,very low frequency (VLF) magnetic fields from the healers hands, and (2) measuringvery low light emission from bioassays (plants).

1. Measuring ELF Magnetic Fields

Extra low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields can now be detected without requiringthe use of expensive SQUID detectors and large magnetically shielded chambers. It ispossible to record milligauss levels of magnetic fields (AC and DC) using portabledevices originally designed for measuring electro-pollution. These devices have digital

displays, and some have outputs for computer storage and analysis.

Connor, Schwartz et al (2006, in press) determined whether such a device coulddetect increases in ELF magnetic activity when Reiki practitioners (n = 17) and MasterHealer (n = 15) were instructed to “run energy.” Changes in ELF activity could bemeasured by counting changes in digital milligauss readings over time. Highlysignificant increases in ELF activity, replicated in both hands, over two trials, wereobtained. Moreover, Master Healers had significant larger increases than ReikiPractitioners.

3-Axis Digital Gaussmeter. Auto-ranging from 0.1 to 1999 milligauss.ACV analog output to connect to digitaloscilloscope or spectrum analyzer.Available from www.lessemf.com.



Reiki Practitioners (n = 17)Running Energy versus Baseline by Hand and Trials

Running Energy Main Effect: F(1,32)=54.76, p<.0000001

Trial 1Trial 2

Left Hand

Baseline Running Energy20

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t i c F i e l d C h a n g e s

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Right Hand

Baseline Running Energy

Master Healers (n = 15)Running Energy versus Baseline by Hand and Trials

Running Energy Main Effect: F(1,28)=157.08, p<.0000001

Trial 1Trial 2

Left Hand

Baseline Running Energy20

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Baseline Running Energy



These findings indicate that changes in extra low frequency, low amplitudemagnetic fields can be correlated with the practice of energy healing. Applications inbasic and applied biofield research are substantial.

2. Measuring Biophoton Images of Plants and Humans

Creath and Schwartz (2005) have recently published a review of their biophotonimaging research titled “What biophoton images of plants and tell us about biofields andhealing.” Using a low-noise, highly sensitive CCD (charge-coupled device) cameracooled to minus 100 degrees centigrade, it is possible to obtain images of biophotonemission from (and around) living systems.

Black light-tight box housingstaging and camera lens.Princeton InstrumentsVersArray 1300 B low-noisehigh performance CCDcamera, manufactured byRoper Scientific, on top withcooling tubes. CyroTigercooling system below.Housed in dark room.

Computer in separate room.



We have documented that (1) injured plants show increased emissions of biophoton release, (2) experienced healers can consciously decrease biophoton emission(when they are doing healing), (3) they can consciously increase biophoton emission(when instructed to make the plants “glow”), (4) it is possible to image “auras” aroundplants, (5) the “auras” interact the closer in proximity are two or more plants, and (6)

human hands, to a lesser extent, emit biophotons as well. Images related to 4 – 6 areshown below.



Political Challenges Facing the Future Development of Biofield Science

When new ideas challenge conventional beliefs – especially in the context of budgetary limitations – controversial areas of research are especially vulnerable. Areview of NCCAM’s suite of currently funded grants illustrates this point.

If NCCAM had not created a separate pool of funds to support “frontiermedicine” research – and NCCAM had not convened a knowledgeable and open mindedstudy section to review the proposals – the experiments reported here would not havebeen conducted. Two recent grant submissions from the CFMBS (one using thegermination of seeds as a bioassay for measuring biofield effects, the other usingbiophoton imaging for measuring biofield effects) were very favorably reviewed byNCCAM’s study section in terms of pilot data and methodology. However, they were notfunded because some members on the review committee questioned the ultimate clinicalvalue of basic science biofield studies of this sort.

In addition, it has been our consistent experience that mainstream journals – bothbasic (e.g. Science ) and applied (e.g. British Medical Journal ) have refused to send outcarefully conducted double-blind studies for peer review because of the controversialnature of the content. Hence, most of our recent papers have been relegated topublications such as the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine and

Journal of Scientific Exploration. The resistance to funding and publishing this researchcomes from many quarters.

Meanwhile, the research from the CFMBAS – viewed in their totality – has led usto the conclusion that significant advances in both biofield science and mind-bodyscience can best occur when these two areas are systematically integrated. Moreover,recent advances in bioelectromagnetic and optical instrumentation have the potential tohelp address the important question “does it work in theory?” Contemporary findingsand theories in consciousness studies and quantum physics (including parapsychology –see Radin, 2006) hold great promise. The political challenge for NCCAM is to determinehow it can best foster a viable level of basic and applied biofield research.

References

Baldwin, A. and Schwartz, GE. Personal Interaction with a Reiki Practitioner DecreasesNoise-Induced Microvascular Damage in an Animal Model. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine , 2005 in press.

Bell IR., Cunningham V, Caspi O, Meek P, Ferro L. Development and Validation of aNew Global Well-Being Outcomes Rating Scale for Integrative Medicine Research.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 4:1, 2004.



Brooks, A.J., Schwartz, G.E., Hamilton, A., Reece, K., and Nangle, G. Interaction of Distant Johrei and Patient Belief in Receiving Johrei on Health Outcomes: A Double-Blind Study. Presented at the Toward a Science of Consciousness 2006 Conference.Tucson, AZ. April, 2006.

Connor, M., Schwartz, G.E. et al. Oscillation of Amplitude as Measured by an ExtraLow Frequency Magnetic Field Meter as a Biophysical Measure of Intentionality . Presented at the Toward a Science of Consciousness 2006 Conference. Tucson, AZ.April, 2006.

Creath, K and Schwartz, G.E. What Biophoton Images of Plants Can Tell Us aboutBiofields and Healing. Journal of Scientific Exploration 19(4), 531-550 (2005).

Radin, D. Entangled Minds: Extrasensory Experiences in a Quantum Reality. ParaviewPocket Books, 2006.

Rubik, B, Brooks, AJ, Schwartz, GE. In Vitro Effect of Reiki Treatment on BacterialCultures: Role of Experimental Context and Practitioner Wellbeing, Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine , 2005 in press.

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